The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly known as CACFP, ensures over 4.2 million children, mostly in families with low income, receive nutritious meals and snacks in childcare. However, not all qualifying childcare providers participate in this beneficial program. Research suggests that the serious deficiency process, designed to ensure program integrity, may hinder participation. Interviews with ten California CACFP sponsors—who administer the program for family childcare home providers and some centers—highlight key issues. Sponsors find the process too harsh, disqualifying providers for simple mistakes, creating equity issues for those with limited technology skills or non-English speakers, and being subjective, unclear and time consuming. These findings are timely as the USDA considers improvements. The full research brief, “CACFP Family Childcare Home Sponsor Perspectives – Serious Deficiency Challenges,” was published by the Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Berkeley, and the CACFP Roundtable.
Published: June 2024
ID #: 283-5102
Publisher: Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Berkeley
Authors: Lee D, Ritchie LD
State: California
Keyword: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Focus Areas: Early Childhood, Nutrition Policy & Programs
Age Group: Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)
Resource Type: Research Brief
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